About GVSU 2018
Avg. Class Size: 26
1,765 faculty members
1,865 support staff members
93% of regular faculty members have earned their doctorate or other terminal degree
93% of recent graduates are employed or pursuing advanced degrees.
colors:
blue, black, white
nickname:
the lakers
first sport:
crew (1964)
mascot:
Louie the Laker
pioneer class:
226 students (1963)
presidents' ball:
attendance 4,000
90% of students received at least one type of financial aid – with more than $282 million going to over 22,800 students.
850 students studied abroad in the 2016-2017 academic year
10th in a national ranking of study abroad participation by the IIE
50 states called home by alumni
16 areas worldwide host alumni clubs
1,140 people volunteered at the Alumni Association's Community Outreach Week
86% of first-year students live on campus
11 dining locations
4 styles of living centers to choose from
20 varsity sports (11 women's, 9 men's)
20 NCAA Division II National Championships
16 straight years earning first or second in the Directors' Cup
Tuition
| Undergraduate Level | Michigan Resident | Non-Michigan Resident |
|---|---|---|
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Lower Division (0–54 credits earned) |
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Upper Division (55+ credits earned) |
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| Graduate Level |
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| View graduate tuition rates and other estimated yearly expenses. |
A per credit hour surcharge will be assessed to those students taking classes that require special equipment, consumable supplies or extraordinary overhead.
- Students classified as undergraduates registering for masters and doctorate courses pay undergraduate tuition rates.
- Students are classified as upper division upon earning their 55th semester credit.
- Students classified as graduates pay their graduate program tuition rate for all courses taken, regardless of residency.
Academic Calendar
Two 15 week semesters
Fall 2016 semester: August 29, 2016–December 10, 2016
Winter 2017 semester: January 9, 2017–April 29, 2017
Two 6 week sessions/one 12 week session
Spring 2017 session: May 8, 2017–June 21, 2017
Summer 2017 session: June 26, 2017–August 9, 2017
Spring/Summer 2017 session: May 8, 2017–August 9, 2017
Grand Valley was named one of America's 100 best college buys for the 22nd year in a row.
- $282 million in financial aid awarded
- $84 million of that aid was in the form of scholarships and grant assistance
- 8,275 students participating in internships, co-ops, practica, and student teaching
- 11,700+ employment and internship opportunities listed with GVSU Career Center
- 1,100+ employers participating in career events
- Middle 50% of Fall 2016 entering class earned high school GPAs from 3.3–3.9, ACT scores of 21–26 and SAT scores of 1050 to 1220
Read a list of recent awards and recognitions.
Pass Rates on Professional Licensure and Certification Exams (2014-2015)
| Professional Licensure Exam | GVSU Grad Pass Rate | National Benchmark |
|---|---|---|
| Finance | 100% | 64% |
| Nursing (Doctoral, Child/Adolescent NP) | 100% | N/A |
| Physical Therapy | 100% | N/A |
| Police Academy | 100% | N/A |
| Military Police Basic Training Program | 100% | N/A |
| Speech and Language Pathology | 100% | N/A |
| Occupational Therapy | 98% | N/A |
| Physician Assistant | 98% | N/A |
| Athletic Training | 96% | 83.6% |
| Medical Laboratory Science | 94% | N/A |
Locations
Allendale (map)
Allendale, Michigan, is home to Grand Valley's main campus, established in 1960, situated on 1,322 acres 12 miles west of Grand Rapids.
Grand Rapids (map)
The 69-acre Robert C. Pew Campus in the heart of Grand Rapids is comprised of multiple sites with a total of 22 buildings, including leased spaces.
Meijer Campus in Holland (map)
The Meijer Campus was dedicated in August 1998 and offers evening, accelerated, hybrid, and online coursework to area students.
Detroit Center (map)
The Detroit Center is home to university business in southeast Michigan and includes space for many activities, including those of the GVSU Charter Schools Office.
Muskegon Regional Center (map)
The Stevenson Center within Muskegon Community College was constructed in 1995 offering the university new opportunities in the shoreline community.
Traverse City Regional Center (map)
Grand Valley was established in 1995 as a charter member of the Northwestern Michigan College's University Center.
Sustainability
250+ sustainability-related courses offered at Grand Valley
One of the greenest universities in the nation, according to the Sierra Club
48.6 percent decrease in use of water, 35 percent decrease in natural gas and 28.7 percent decrease in electricity during the past 15 years at Grand Valley
26 LEED-certified buildings completed at Grand Valley
Gold status and seventh in the nation for master's-level institutions, according to the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education
250+ energy-saving projects carried out by GVSU in the last 15 years, resulting in more than $2 million in annual cost avoidances.
Economic Impact
$816 million in total estimated impact of faculty, staff, and students in Kent, Ottawa, and Muskegon counties during 2015-2016
$190.3 million total estimated student expenditures in the area
11,810 total estimated employment attributed to GVSU in the area
Endowment and Funding
$397 million general fund budget
$323 million in tuition
$70 million in state appropriations
$118+ million endowment
$12+ million in private funding (gifts and overall pledges)
54% of faculty and staff gave (FY17)
Administration
Established: Grand Valley State University was chartered by the Michigan legislature in 1960 in response to the need for a public, four-year college in the state's second largest metropolitan region.
Mission: Educating students to shape their lives, their professions, and their societies. The university contributes to the enrichment of society through excellent teaching, active scholarship, and public service.
Learn more on our strategic positioning page.
President: Thomas J. Haas
Board of Trustees:
- Victor M. Cardenas
- Randall S. Damstra
- David S. Hooker
- John C. Kennedy (chair)
- Mary L. Kramer (vice chair)
- John G. Russell
- Megan S. Sall
- Kate Pew Wolters
- Thomas J. Haas (ex officio)
- Donna K. Brooks, (honorary life member)
- Dorothy A. Johnson, (honorary life member)
Accreditation: Grand Valley is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission; Member - North Central Association, 230 S. LaSalle Street, Suite 7-500, Chicago, IL 60604-1411; telephone: (312) 263-0456; Web: www.hlcommission.org/
For More Information
Download a raw set of GVSU statistics by visiting the Institutional Analysis website.